Eye care center to open in Charlton

Thursday

Aug 16, 2012 at 6:00 AMAug 16, 2012 at 6:36 AM

•Harrington HealthCare System will be opening a new Eye Center at 20 Southbridge Road in Charlton, where Harrington Physician Services will relocate the practice of Dr. Richard Irwin and the Optical Shop from the Medical Arts Building on the Harrington Hospital campus. Harrington Physician Services has hired ophthalmologist Dr. Michael W. Border to join Dr. Irwin.

The hiring of Dr. Border will bring a total of three ophthalmologists to Harrington HealthCare System. Dr. Hugh Cooper, also a member of the Harrington medical staff, will continue to see patients at his office in the Medical Arts Building on the Harrington Hospital campus in Southbridge, as well as at the Webster campus at 340 Thompson Road, Webster.

Drs. Border and Irwin will conduct eye exams and also perform surgical procedures, treating patients for a variety of ophthalmic conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic eye disease. The addition of Dr. Border to the practice will allow the Eye Center to also treat pediatric eye disease.

Dr. Border comes to Harrington from the Fichman Eye Center in Manchester, Conn. He received his degree in medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. Dr. Border was an ophthalmology resident at the United States Public Health Service Hospital in Staten Island, N.Y., and at St. Francis General Hospital in Pittsburgh. He completed an internship in internal medicine at USPHS Hospital.

For more information, call (508) 765-9068.

•The Tufts Health Plan Foundation announced that it has awarded more than $1.7 million in grants to 46 Massachusetts and Rhode Island based organizations in its first cycle of funding for 2012.

A Worcester-based organization is among the recipients. VNA Care Network will receive $14,000 to increase knowledge and awareness of fall prevention and personal fall risk factors among its older adult program participants. The program incorporates bone density, physical activity and balance assessments.

Tufts Health Plan Foundation and the awardees share a common mission, which is to promote healthy lifestyles and the delivery of superior programs for elders in our communities. The grantees provide a range of programs and services that promote healthy aging physically and mentally in four targeted areas: caregiver support, fall prevention, intergenerational collaboration and vibrant lifestyles.

•Clinton Hospital’s Patient Family Advisory Council is seeking additional community members to share their thoughts and ideas about the care provided at Clinton Hospital. Members will be asked to attend one monthly meeting at the hospital to discuss topics including quality of care, patient satisfaction and facility improvements. Participants must be at least 18 years old and have past or current experience with Clinton Hospital as a patient or family member of a patient. Call Charlene Elie at (978) 368-3888 for more information.

•UMass Memorial Health Care’s Ronald McDonald Care Mobile provides medical and dental services to people without health or dental insurance. For more information or to make an appointment, call (508) 334-6073. If you need medical or dental insurance, call (508) 334-9300.